Streptocarpus plant named Minerva

ABSTRACT

A Streptocarpus plant named Minerva characterized by its numerous short leaves in rosette form, blue violet flower color, floriferous habit, compact growth habit, early flowering and ability to flower under low light levels and high temperatures, and by its long lasting and non-shattering flowers.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofStreptocarpus plant, botanically known as Streptocarpus×hybridus, andknown by the cultivar name Minerva. Minerva was developed by me throughcontrolled breeding by crossing Thor (seed parent)×Neptune (pollenparent). Neither parent cultivar is patented.

Asexual reproduction by leaf cuttings has shown that the unique featuresof this new Streptocarpus are stabilized and are reproduced true to typein successive propagations.

The following characteristics distinguish the new Streptocarpus fromboth its parent varieties and other cultivated Streptocarpus of thistype known and used in the floriculture industry:

1. Minerva is characterized by numerous short leaves in the form of arosette instead of one large leaf that characterizes many olderStreptocarpus cultivars. This results in a cluster of flowers in themiddle of green foliage making an attractive 10 cm flowering plant.

2. From a well rooted plant out of a 72 cell pack a well developedflowering plant is obtained in 6 to 10 weeks making it earlier thanNeptune and Thor.

3. Minerva is deeper blue in flower color and has less yellow color inthe throat than Neptune, and does not have as much violet color as Thor.The flower color is a darker blue than both Orion and Janus, thecultivars being disclosed in pending applications.

4. Growth habit of Minerva is similar to Neptune, Thor, and Pegasus(patent applied for) and more compact than Janus and Orion.

5. The leaves on Minerva are not as coarse and brittle as Thor andNeptune but similar to Pegasus, resulting in a plant that is easy toship.

6. Minerva is superior in plantlet formation from leaf cuttings to Thorand Neptune. It is similar to Electra (patent applied for) but not asgood as Orion and Janus. Plantlets form in eight to ten weeks dependingon the season of the year.

7. Flowers on Minerva are larger and not as cupped as Neptune; aresimilar in size to Thor but not as cupped, and are not as large asAriadne (patent applied for) and Ulyssus (patent applied for).

8. Minerva has demonstrated the ability to tolerate overhead wateringwith colder than normal water (40° F.) without foliar spotting, andtolerates fairly high light levels in summer without leaf yellow andbronzing which occur in both Thor and Neptune.

9. Minerva will flower both under the lower light levels of winter(December to February) and the high temperatures of summer (July toSeptember) without ever going out of bloom under greenhouse conditions.Many older cultivars would not bloom under these conditions.

10. Minerva has numerous 40 to 45 mm flowers with up to 3 per stalk thatare non-shattering and long lasting which results in an ideal floweringpot plant.

The accompanying color photograph illustrates in perspective view theoverall appearance of Minerva, with colors being as true as reasonablypossible in a color reproduction of this type.

The following is a detailed description of my new Streptocarpus cultivarbased on plants produced under commercial practices in Greenhouses ofMikkelsens Inc., Ashtabula, Ohio. Color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart (RHS), except where general colors ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

Classification:

Botanical.--Streptocarpus×hybridus, cv. Minerva.

Parentage: Controlled cross of Thor×Neptune.

Propagation:

A. Type cutting.--Leaf.

B. Time to develop plantlets.--Summer: 8 weeks at 20° C.; Winter: 10weeks at 20° C.

C. Rooting habit.--Numerous, fine, fibrous.

Plant description:

A. Form.--Leaves rosette from a crown at the soil line, with flowerstalks forming at the leaf midrib. Many leaves in a symmetrical pattern.

B. Habit of growth.--Flowers carried along foliage. Vigorous, very freeflowering, never going out of bloom once it starts blooming undergreenhouse conditions.

C. Height from soil line.--10 to 12 cm.

D. Spread.--40 to 45 cm at maturity. Leaf Size: 18 to 24 cm in lengthand 7 to 8 cm in width at the widest point; leaf size can vary greatlywith cultural conditions. Quantity: Mature plant may have more than 15leaves. Leaf Shape: Elliptical. Texture: Lower surface rugose with veinsprotruding and pubescent -- upper surface rugose and pubescent. Margin:Finely crenate. Color: Young foliage, top side 143A; under side 145B.Mature foliage, top side 137A; under side 146D. Ribs and veins: Pinnate.Rib and vein color: 146C. Leaf tips: Obtuse. Leaf base: Acute.

Flowering description: Flowers open one at a time on the individualflower stalks.

A. Fully expanded.--45 to 45 cm.

B. Stem.--Single, dark green with purple cast; long, slightly pubescentand round -- several from a leaf midrib.

C. Form.--Funnel shaped in an umbel with upper two petals flexed andlower petals flattened to give an overall flat appearance.

D. Flower bud description.--20 to 25 mm at maturity, tubular with theend larger in diameter than the rest; 5 green calyx folded over thebasal end.

E. Flowers borne.--In clusters of 2 to 3 flowers per flower stalk with 3the most common, carried above foliate. Pedicels of the flowers in theinflorescence vary in length.

F. Quantity of flowers.--Mature plant can have more than 20 flowerstalks open with up to 3 flowers per stalk.

G. Permanence.--Long lasting, 10 days or longer.

Color:

A. Tonality from a distance.--Dark blue with yellow and white in throat.

B. Upper surface of petals.--90B with 83B in the lower 3 petals.

C. Under surface of petals.--86C.

D. Throat.--1B streaks that fade to almost white as flower ages; 83Bstreaking, also some 91B in throat.

E. Discoloration.--Fading of older flowers to light blue with a moreviolet cast.

Petals:

A. Texture.--Satin.

B. Appearance.--Individually lobed with very slight crenate margins; top2 petals reflexed and smaller than the 3 bottom petals which are flat.

C. Arrangement.--Regularly united into an almost circular shape.

D. Persistence.--10 days or longer. Remain on plant in dry form untilpicked.

E. Fragrance.--None.

Reproductive organs:

A. Stamens.--2 fertile. Anther shape: 2 fertile, interconnected andflat. Anther color: White, with purple cast. Filament: Attached topetals for 3 mm and free standing for 4 mm. Pollen color: White.

B. Pistils.--Stigma shape: 2 lobed flattened, rounded at end of lobes.Stigma color: White. Stigma size: 2 mm. Style color: White. Style size:5 mm. Ovaries: Numerous, 12-14 mm on a receptive pistil, purplish.

Disease resistance: No disease problems to date.

Other important characteristics: Minerva's compact growth habit combinedwith its highly floriferous nature makes this cultivar suitable for 10cm pot plant production. The long lasting, non-shattering flowers ofMinerva and its pliable small leaves makes shipping easy. Its distinctdark blue color with less purple cast than other dark blue cultivarsimproves its appearance under fluorescent light. Lack of major diseaseand resistance to insects makes for a trouble free crop to grow.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Streptocarpus named Minerva,as illustrated and described, and particularly characterized by itsnumerous short leaves in rosette form, blue violet flower color,floriferous habit, compact growth habit, early flowering and ability toflower under low light levels and high temperatures, and by its longlasting and non-shattering flowers.